ED026-0098
The Effects of Native Tree Species on Ambient Air and Surface Temperatures in Southeastern Michigan
The Effects of Native Tree Species on Ambient Air and Surface Temperatures in Southeastern Michigan
Thursday, 10 December 2020
Abstract:
Gathering data is essential when developing strategies to improve our understanding of the impact urban trees potentially have in helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect. This research project was conducted near Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan; a relatively small suburban city approximately 17.2 miles away from the urban center of
Detroit. Native tree species are more acclimated to local and regional conditions as they have evolved in this region since the last ice age. Native trees are also important to local wildlife because they also evolved an ecological interdependence. Using GLOBE protocols - temperature data, tree heights, and circumferences were collected from under a tree’s canopy and also outside of its canopy during the 2019 summer. Commonly planted deciduous native tree species were chosen to investigate the shading effect they had on both surface and ambient air temperatures.
The GLOBE Observer App for trees was used to obtain tree height and circumference and a Pasco weather station was used to record weather data.Weather data was exported to an Excel spreadsheet for analysis. All of the data was entered through the GLOBE data entry portal. Preliminary analysis showed that of the trees sampled, basswoods (Tilia americana) had the largest ability to reduce surface and air temperatures while the red maples (Acer rubrum) appeared to have a smaller effect. This research seems to suggest that planting a greater proportion of basswoods in urban plantings might help to mitigate the warming effect that many anthropogenic structures and surfaces have in cities. Although most trees have the ability to reduce temperatures, this research sought to determine if some native tree species were a better choice than others. Further research needs to be conducted to evaluate other native tree species suitable for city plantings.
Detroit. Native tree species are more acclimated to local and regional conditions as they have evolved in this region since the last ice age. Native trees are also important to local wildlife because they also evolved an ecological interdependence. Using GLOBE protocols - temperature data, tree heights, and circumferences were collected from under a tree’s canopy and also outside of its canopy during the 2019 summer. Commonly planted deciduous native tree species were chosen to investigate the shading effect they had on both surface and ambient air temperatures.
The GLOBE Observer App for trees was used to obtain tree height and circumference and a Pasco weather station was used to record weather data.Weather data was exported to an Excel spreadsheet for analysis. All of the data was entered through the GLOBE data entry portal. Preliminary analysis showed that of the trees sampled, basswoods (Tilia americana) had the largest ability to reduce surface and air temperatures while the red maples (Acer rubrum) appeared to have a smaller effect. This research seems to suggest that planting a greater proportion of basswoods in urban plantings might help to mitigate the warming effect that many anthropogenic structures and surfaces have in cities. Although most trees have the ability to reduce temperatures, this research sought to determine if some native tree species were a better choice than others. Further research needs to be conducted to evaluate other native tree species suitable for city plantings.